Key for cylinder locks



W- o. c; LARSN KEY FOR'CYLINDER LOCKS Original Filed Odt. 16, 1940 .INVENTOR 07-70 C. Anzac/v A'n'bRNE Patented Aug. 25, 1942 KEY FOR CYLINDER LOCKS Otto C. Larson, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Original applications October 16, 1940, Serial No. 361,403, and December 18, 1940, Serial No. 370,589. Divided and this application February 18, 1941, Serial No. 379,419

6 Claims.

This invention relates to keys for cylinder locks having transversely movable means extending into the key receiving passages thereof, and the object of the invention is to provide a key of the character described having a bevel at the inner end thereof adapted to cooperate with said transversely movable means to move the same out of the key passage of a look, a further object being to provide means longitudinally of the key in alinement with said bevel for supporting the transversely movable means in a predetermined position when the key is fully inserted in the lock cylinder, a still further object being to include in said longitudinally extending means predetermined detents registering with independent transversely movable members of said lock cylinder, and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a key of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, efiicient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

Fig. 1 is a plan and sectional view of a key and lock made according to my invention, showing the key in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with part of the construction shown in full lines.

Fig. 3 is a side View of a key adapted for use in conjunction with vertical as well as horizontal tumblers;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of a cylinder lock casing showing another adaptation of the invention, with part of the construction broken away and in section.

Fig. 5 is a plan and sectional View of a key and lock made according to my invention, showing a portion only of the key in position to be inserted in the lock, and:

Fig. 6 is a side view ofa key looking in the direction of the arrow B in Fig. 5.

This invention constitutes a division of the subject matter disclosed in my prior applications Serial Number 361,403, filed October 16, 1940, and Serial Number 370.589, filed December 18, 1940, and relates to an improved key construction for use with cylinder locks of the general type disclosed therein. The improved lock structures are characterized by transversely movable members which project into the key passage of the lock cylinder and the improved key construction is characterized by beveled means at the inner end thereof for moving said transversely movable members out of the key passage in the operation of inserting the key in the lock, and other means longitudinally of the key for supporting said members in predetermined positions when the key is fully inserted in the look.

In the construction of cylinder looks, it has been a common practice to dispose the tumblers in the lock casing to engage one edge portion, usually the upper edge portion, of the key. Locks of this type and kind have been made up with many combinations, not only from the standpoint of the various configurations in the edge of the key for engagement with the tumblers, but also from the standpoint of the size of the key and cross sectional contour thereof. It is the purpose of my invention to materially enlarge upon the possible combinations which can be provided so as to meet the increasing demand for locks of this type and kind, and in rendering such locks more theftproof by reason of the greater number of problems to be solved in order to pick the lock. Basically, I accomplish this result by employing tumblers engaging characterized or configurated sections on at least one side surface of the key; and it will be understood that this control may be used in certain simpler forms of key with a straight upper edge on the key, and by eliminating the use of the common vertical tumblers, as well as in conjunction with keys having formed upper edges for engagement with the usual vertical tumblers. It is also within the scope of my invention to make up a lock casing structure which would be universally adaptable to the arrangement of tumblers at either side of the key together with or independent of the vertical tumblers; and if desired, in utilizing all of the tumblers.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, 10 represents the lock casing, including the front disc or flange H, the rearwardly extending cylindrical portion i2, having the upstanding or vertically disposed tumbler rib l3. At I4 is shown a cylinder lock mounted in the tubular or cylindrical portion I2, and with which the usual control elements are coupled in any desired manner. These have been omitted in the present illustration as they form no direct part of the present invention; and it is immaterial as to what particular use the lock is put to. In the present construction, in addition to the rib I3, a supplemental horizontally disposed rib l5 is employed. This rib is provided with a predetermined number of bores 16, spaced longitudinally thereof which are adapted to register with corresponding bores I! in the cylinder l4. In these bores are arranged tumblers i8 and backings [9, the latter operating upon coil springs 20, seating upon plate 2| closing the outer ends of the bores It,

The tumblers l8 extend into the key receiving slot or groove 22 of the cylinder M, the contour of which will be such as to receive the cross sectional contour of the particular key 23 employed. As thesekeys vary materially in contour, no specific description of the key in this respect is mentioned, aside from the fact that one side surface thereof, in the construction shown, is provided, with a longitudinally projecting rib or fin 24, in which is formed a series of recesses 25- of different depths, in conjunction with which the several tumblers I8 operate in properly alining abutting surfaces 26 of the tumblers l8 and backings 19 in the cylinder M to facilitate rotation of the cylinder when the key'. isainserted. The inner end of the rib or-fin isbevelled as, seen at 21, note Fig. 1, to enable the key23, or" the rib 24 thereof, to ride over the rounded inner ends of the tumblers l8 as the key is inserted into the lock.

In orderto simplify-the invention, or to show one simple adaptationthereof, theusual tum- -'blers :havebeenorrfitted-frem'the rib or web is;

-and-with this type-of construction, the upper edge 28 of the key-willbe leftplain and the "tumblerslB will=bethesole means of controlling the lockoperation. However, it will be under- --stoodthat the invention is also applicable to -keys employing the usual configurated upper edge as is seen at 29-in-' Fig.- 3 of the drawing. In this key, the rib or fin 55 is identical with the rib -24 and-hasspaced recesses 3| similar to the recesses 25, andthe-bevelled outer edge 42 similar to the bevel 28 to operate-in a lock otherwise of the same construction-shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lock is'altered simplybyincorporating in the web l3, the tumblers operatively engaging the edge 29 in-controlling rotation of the lock cylinder by the key-illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

7 At this timeit 'will also' -be apparent that the particular location or formationof the tumbler controlling elements 25,-3!,--on the key. is imma- .terial. 'Thesemay be located at any-particular sectionofthe key between upper and lower edges thereof. and at either or both-sides thereof. For example, in Fig, 4, of the draw-ing, I have shown :a lock casi-ng33- wherein the'cylindrical portion 34' is provided with one' rib or web- 35, similar to the conventional vertical rib and with-a rib or webse similarto the rib or -web l5, and an opposed rib or web 31. "At'38'is' shown the lock cylinder,-part of which has-been broken away to illustrate the key aperture or channel 39 of the cylinder, the key'being shown-in cross sec- .tion at 40. This key may be of any desired cross sectional-form. -I-Iowever, in adapting it to one or more of the uses, the side surface as at 4| may have a characterizedcontourfor-cooperation with tumblersin the rib 36. The other side surface 42 may loe-characterized for receiving tumblers in the rib 31; whereas the upper edge of the key may'be'characterized for receiving tumblers in the web '35.

In the typeof' lock casings illustrated, which are adapted for use primarily inconnection with doors, the casings havingapertured ears, one of whichTis shown-at 44 in Fig 2 of the drawing, and two of such ears are shown at 45 in Fig. 4. These-are employed to receive the conventional mounting screws employedin-locks of this type andkind of more or'less standardized construction. However, as previously stated, the particularstyling of the lock-is immaterialasthese lock casings are styled to suit the different uses to which key locks of the type and kind are employed, such for example, as knob locks, ignition or switch locks, and many others.

In the modification of my invention shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing, d6 represents the casing in which the cylinder 41 of a lock is arranged.

The casing has an enlarged disk or flange portion 48 at its outer end grooved as seen at 49 for mounting in any suitable lock casing or in an opening formed in a door or other support. The cylinder 4'! has a retaining plate 59 at its inner end which. retains the cylinder against longitudinal displacement in the casing 46, and to this plate is pivoted the usual spindle 5|.

v,"lhe casing 46 has an upwardly extending web Hportion not shown which is similar to the rib properly inserted in position. This construction is substantially conventional with locks that are orweb I 3 of Fig. 2 and in which the backings for the tumblers 52 are arranged. The key channel '53 is of irregular cross sectional contour depending upon the particular type and kind of key- 5d employed. The key 54 has on its upper edge the usual grooves or notches--55 which cooperate withthe tumblers--52 in properly alining these tumblers-in the cylindent so -as to provide rotation of -thecylinder when the key is well knownon the market.

"In carrying my invention into effect, I provide the cylinder- 41 with a series of bores or passages '56 preferably arranged intermediate the tumblers 52. In these bores or passages are arranged key blocking pins 5l-normally held in extended position into the key channel 53 by springs- 58; the outer ends of whichseat on-retaining--plugs59 whichsimply guard the springs from-- scratching or otherwise defacing the bore dfia of the casing -againstinsertion into the key channel 53 by the pins 57. I therefore provide on the inner end of thekey- 54 abeveled surface-BEL-note Fig. 6 of the drawing, so that'upon inserting the pointed or beveled end 6| of the key into the channel 53, the beveled surface 60 will operate to move the blocking pins or supplemental-tumblers 51 to the right as viewed in" Fig. 5 of the drawing, to allow the key to pass into the cylinder beneath the tumblers 52. When the key is in fully inserted position, the notches 55'will properly aline the tumblers 52in the cylinder 41, allowing said cylinder-to be rotatedtoactuate the spindle 5! in operatinga lock mechanism as in other locks of this type and kind.

In the operation of inserting the key, the supplemental tumblers 57 ride along the surface '62 of the key which serves-tosupport the tumblers 51 outwardly of the channel 53. The particular location of the portion 62'a101'1g whichthe tumblers ride, will depend :upon. the particular lock in which the-key'is' to'be used and the relation between the locktumblers and key passage'thereof. It will further be apparent that the key shownin Fig. 6"may be adapted to a lock structure of the type shown in'Figs; 1 to 4, by merely providing suitabletransversev projections or detents for controlling "the; transversely jmowable "tumblers of'the lock.

Having fully described" my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A key for cylinder locks of the class described, said key comprising a blank having an elongated shank, a plurality of longitudinal grooves thereon forming a ribbed and channeled cross sectional contour in said shank, one of said grooves extending to the upper edge of said shank forming a section of reduced thickness ofiset laterally with respect to the center of said blank, turnbler engaging means along the upper edge of said section, other tumbler engaging means along at least one side surface of said blank below and adjacent said first named means, and one end of said shank in alinement With said last named means being bevelled.

2. A key for cylinder locks of the class described, said key comprising a blank having an elongated shank, a plurality of longitudinal grooves thereon forming a ribbed and channeled cross sectional contour in said shank, one of said grooves extending to the upper edge of said shank forming a section of reduced thickness offset laterally with respect to the center of said blank, tumbler engaging means along the upper edge of said section, other tumbler engaging means along at least one side surface of said blank below and adjacent said first named means, one end of said shank in alinement with said last named means being bevelled, and said last named means being arranged along the outer surface of said offset section.

3. A key for cylinder locks of the class described, said key comprising a blank having an elongated shank, a plurality of longitudinal grooves thereon forming a ribbed and channeled cross sectional contour in said shank, one of said grooves extending to the upper edge of said shank forming a section of reduced thickness offset laterally with respect to the center of said blank, tumbler engaging means along the upper edge of said section, other tumbler engaging means along at least one side surface of said blank below and adjacent said first named means, one end of said shank in alinement with said last named means being bevelled, and said last named means comprising a series of detents along the surface of a rib below said offset section.

l. A key for cylinder locks of the class described, said key comprising a blank having an elongated shank, a plurality of longitudinal grooves thereon forming a ribbed and channeled cross sectional contour in said shank, one of said grooves extending to the upper edge of said shank forming a section of reduced thickness offset laterally with respect to the center of said blank, tumbler engaging means along the upper edge of said section, other tumbler engaging means along at least one side surface of the said blank below and adjacent said first named means, one end of said shank in alinement with said last named means being bevelled, said last named means comprising a series of detents along the surface of a rib lbeIOW said offset section and another series of detents in the opposed surface of said blank in alinement with said rib forming other tumbler engaging means on said key.

5. A key for cylinder locks of the class described, said key comprising a blank having an elongated shank, a plurality of longitudinal grooves thereon forming a ribbed and channeled cross sectional contour in said shank, one of said grooves extending to the upper edge of said shank forming a section of reduced thickness offset laterally with respect to the center of said blank, tumbler engaging means along at least one side surface of the said blank below and adjacent said first named means, one end of said shank in alinement with said last named means being bevelled, and said last named means comprising a series of detents in a surface of said blank continuous with the outer surface of said offset section.

6. A key 'for cylinder locks of the class described, said key comprising shank of irregular cross sectional contour including an upper section of reduced thickness throughout the length of the shank, tumbler engaging means along the upper edge of said section, other tumbler engaging means comprising a series of detents along at least one side surface of a thicker lower portion of the upper section of said shank, and the end of said shank in alinement with said last named means being bevelled.

OTTO C. LARSON. 

